President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation on Thursday designating October 9 as Leif Erikson Day to honor the Norse explorer who reached North America 500 years before Columbus.
The proclamation celebrates Erikson as “the first European to ever set foot in the New World” and recognizes Nordic Americans’ contributions to the United States.
According to the proclamation, Erikson sailed from Greenland more than 1,000 years ago, traveling 1,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. He landed at what he called “Vinland,” now identified as L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada.
Trump’s proclamation describes Erikson as guided by “his deep Christian faith,” who “assembled a brave crew and set sail, voyaging more than 1,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean through brutal winds and storms.”
The document draws parallels between Erikson’s exploration and American achievements. It connects his legacy to “the pioneers who tamed the Western frontier to the Apollo 11 astronauts who proudly planted the Stars and Stripes on the Moon.”
The proclamation emphasizes strengthening ties with Nordic nations. Trump states his administration is “advancing fair trade and promoting peace through strength” with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland.
Congress authorized the President to proclaim each year, October 9, as Leif Erikson Day starting in 1964. The date traditionally marks when the first organized group of Norwegian immigrants arrived in America in 1825.
Trump calls upon Americans to “celebrate the achievements and contributions of Nordic Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.” The proclamation was signed on October 9, marking the 250th year of American independence.